Excavating apparatus.



Mmr I 3PM r a w o 3 mv M mm mm b 5M. w? on v 5 No. 858,069. I PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907. W. HEFFRON. EXGA-VATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED KAY 9.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HEFFRON, OF CINCINNATI, oI-IIo, ASSIGNOR To THE HEFFRON TRENOHING COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

EXCAVATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed May 9, 1906. Serial No. 315,937.

To aZZ whom it WMLZ/ concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HEFFRON, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a cheap, simple apparatus or construction to be employed in excavating or digging cellars, sewers, trenches or any work in which it is necessary to remove dirt, clay or the like from one point and haul it to another by the use of carts, wagons or the like. Apparatus of this nature, has heretofore been of a stationary character, that is, it could only be moved from one point to another by some auxiliary or outside means not attached to the excavator itself; I overcome this objection by making my apparatus portable rendering it convenient and possible to move the apparatus from one job to another and from any point to some place of repair or to have a final destination when the work for the season is finished or at an end. My apparatus is also simply but efficientlybraced to add strength to the same.

The various features and advantages of the invention will readily become apparent from the following specification.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification. Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus in portable form ready to be moved. Fig. 2 is a side view of the a paratus in position for work, the portabI means being disconnected. Fig. 3 is a section of the wheels and journal pieces and parts for supporting the wheels, the shafts and connecting parts being shown in elevation, the section taken at line X, X, of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a plan or top view of the apparatus taken onthe line Z, Z, of Fig. 3.

The bottom of the apparatus is formed of a rectangular frame work, made up of the side pieces 1, 1, the end pieces 2, 2, and the central piece 3. From the bottom frame work extend upward the posts or standard 4, 4, at each side of the frame at its forward end and at the point where the central piece 3 is present. At the rear of the bottom frame work are two short posts 5, 5, and from the bottom frame work, about one third the distance between the rear'posts 4, the short posts 5, on each side, are present posts or standard as 6, 6. These standards may and are connected by cross pieces at the top and at any other points desired for strength, and from the short posts 5 to the rear posts 4 extend bars as 7, on each side. On the top of these standards 4, 4, I place a top or platform and on the standards or posts 6, 6, and short posts 5, 5, is connected an inclined platform 9. These platforms are connected to the posts and cross bars in any desired manner to attain strength and strengthened by braces as 10 and 11 and corner pieces as 12. To the platform 8 I attach, at its forward end, in any desired manner a pulley sup orting device 13 on which are j ournaled pu leys, sheaves or wheels as 14. In the platform 8, I also provide a hopper as 1.5. At the end of the inclined platform 9, I hinge a movable platform 16 by hinge 17 ,which can be thrown back on platform 9 or swing down to the ground as shown in Fig. 2 and by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

When the apparatus is in use, an engine is located at its forward end, this engine pulling the shovels or plows filled with dirt over the hopper 15, where the load is discharged into a wagon or cart standing under said hopper 15 at the point 18, the frame work at this point of course being high enough for the horses and wagon to pass under and through the same.

The engine (not shown) can, with its connecting parts, be operated in connection with the excavating apparatus in any desired manner.

From the forward bottom piece 2 to the central piece 3, I connect longitudinal connecting brace bars as 19, 19, (see Fig. 4) and through the face of these bars, I embed'rods as 20, 20, which rods extend from the forward piece 2 of the frame work at the bottom to the rear piece 2 and from the point 21, at the rear of the central piece 3 these rods diverge, being connected at rear to straps 22. This system of brace rods 20, 20, and connecting parts add great strength to the structure.

From the connecting bars 7, 7, to the side pieces 1, 1, the post or standard 6 may be widened, or a widened part as 23 connected thereto. In this part 23, I place one end of the shaft 24. This shaft 24 is shaped similar to a crank shaft. I connect the other end of the shaft 24 to the rear end of the brace rod 25 (at each side) the other end of the brace bar being strapped to the rear piece 2 of bottom frame work by a strap 26. As before stated one end of the shaft 24 passes through the part 23 of post 6 and the other end through the rear end of the brace rod 25, (see particularly Figs. 3 and 4). The upper end of shaft 24 is held in place by two bolt and nut connections 27, 27 which pass through the shaft and through part 23 or post 6. The end of shaft 24 which passes through the rear of the brace rod 25 may be held in place-in any desired manner. ,The wheels 28, 28 revolve on the inner part of said shaft 24. Iusually provide these wheels with a wide hub 29, so as to provide a sufficient bearing surface.

To the forward piece 2 of bottom frame work, I attach in any suitable manner goose necks 30, 30, carrying a supporting disk 31 for the fifth wheel, king bolt and connections making up the attachment consisting of a set of wheels, axle, wagon tongue and connecting parts for pulling the apparatus when it is desired to move the same. The wheels are marked 32, the tongue 33, the fifth Wheel 34, the king bolt 35 and the axle 36. In turning the wheels 32 pass under the goose neck 30.

The apparatus is lifted on and off the work or into a movable or permanent position by placing jacks under the frame work and lifting or lowering the same. When the apparatus is on the work as shown in Fig. 2 and the work at one point is finished, it is slid or pulled along a short distance by the ordinary engine usually used with the apparatus when at work.

If the apparatus is to be lowered the front wheels and tongue are detached by removing the king bolt and its connections; this lowers the front end; the bolt and nut connections 27 27 are then loosened from their bearings, the strap 26 of guide bar 25 loosened from rear piece 2, the wheels 28, the shaft 24 and the guide bars 25 being then disengaged from the frame work, the frame work not being supported can be let down so that it will rest on'the ground over the work or at any place desired. If it is desired to lift the frame work, it is jacked up, so that the shaft 24 can be connected by bolt connections 27 27, and the straps 26 put into place. When engaged the portable attachment for the apparatus are in the position shown in Fig. 1 and when disengaged, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will readily be seen that a great advantage lies in the convenience of rendering the apparatus portable, as without the use of some extraneous means, it can be moved from one job to another and to and from some desired point quickly, cheaply and efficiently, saving time, labor and expense.

The frame work of the apparatus can be of any construction, one specific form being herein described, a form of my own invention and construction. The frame work may be of any shape or construction and be braced and connected together in any desired manner. The goose necks may be attached gfto the frame work in any desired manner and any other form of construction may be .employed for attaching and detaching the tongue, axle and wheels. The peculiar shaped shaft 24 and the connections which support it, may be of any other form and construction and connected to the frame work in any other desired manner.

WVhat I claim as new and of my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an excavating apparatus of the character described, a framework, a platform, over which platform the shovels carrying the dirt operate, in combination with means consisting of axle and wheels for rendering said device portable, said axle and wheels adjustably connected to said device, as set forth.

2. In an excavating apparatus of the character described, a frame work, a platform, said platform supported by said frame work, over which platform the shovels carrying the dirt operate, in combination with rods passing from the forward to the rear part of the bottom frame work, said rods diverging at the rear, and acting as brace rods, all combined and operating as set forth.

3. In an excavating apparatus of the character described, a frame work, a platform, over which platform the shovels carrying the dirt operate, in combination with shafts, said shafts connected at one end to the upright frame work, guide bars, said guide bars usually connected at one end to the frame work and at the other end supporting the said shafts, said shafts removably connected to said frame work, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In an excavating apparatus of the character described, a frame work, a platform, said platform supporting said frame work, over which platform the shovels carrying the dirt operate, in combination with shafts, said shafts connected at one end to the upright frame work, guide bars, said guide bars usually connected at one end to the frame work and at the other end supporting the said shafts, said shafts removably connected to said frame work, goose necks, said goose necks connected to the forward end of the framework, a support connected to said goose necks to provide means for connecting a tongue, wheels and axle for rendering the apparatus portable, as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an excavating apparatus of the character described, a framework, a platform, i the framework, Wheels and axle and supportsaid platform supported on said framework, ing means therefor, to render-the apparatus over which platform the shovels carrying the portable, as and for the purposes set forth.

' dirt operate, in combination with means at WILLIAM HEFFRON. 5 its forward end for attaching a tongue, axle, Witnesses:

and Wheels, and at its rear in combina- JOHN AMBROSE,

tion with means for adjustably attaching to p F. G. N EUHAUS. 

